WEBVTT HILL, WXII 12 NEWS.>> NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANLAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO PASS A23 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET THISWEEK AFTER ANNOUNCING ANAGREEMENT YESTERDAY.>> THE SENATE GAVE INITIALAPPROVAL TO THE BUDGET LESS THANAN HOUR AGO, WITH A 38-TO-11VOTE.DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ROY COOPERIS SLAMMING THE SPENDING PLAESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TOTEACHER PAY.>> I THINK IT MAY BE THE MOSTFISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE BUDGETI'VE EVER SEEN.THE BUDGET MANAGES TO SPEND $130MILLION MORE THAN EITHER OF THCHAMBER'S BUDGETS, BUT IT SPENDSLESS ON TEACHER PAY THAN EITHERBUDGET>> THE PLAN INCLUDES ABOUT A 3%PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS.BUT PROVIDES NO ADDITIONALFUNDING FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIESOR SPENDING ON BROADBANDINFRASTRUCTURE.THE NEW BUDGET WOULD ALSO LEAVETHOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ONPRE-KINDERGARTEN WAIT LIST>> THE GOVERNOR IS ENCOURAGINGBOTH PARTIES TO VOTE NO ON THEBUDGET THAT HE THINKS IS WRONGFOR THE STATE.COOPER BUT STOPPED SHORT OFSAYING HE WOULD VETO IT.THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATIONOF EDUCATORS AGREES WITHGOVENROR'S OPINION.THEY RELEASED THIS STATEMENTWHICH READS IN PART, PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARESHORTCHANGED IN THIS BUDGET WITHVERY LITTLE INVESTMENT IN THERESOURCES IT TAKES TO HELP THEMBE SUCCESSFUL.THE GOVERNOR SAYS EDUCATORS ARETHE LOSERS IN THIS TWO-YEARPLAN.ANOTHER GROUP THAT STANDS TOLOSE A LOT, INCLUDES SOME OF THESTATE'S POOREST CITIZENS.BILL O'NEIL IS LIVE INGREENSBORO WITH THE STORY, ALLNEW AT 6:00, BILL: LEGAL AID, WHICH HELPS THEPOOR GAIN ACCESS TO THE COURTS,IS ONCE AGAIN FACING BUDGET CUIN NORTH CAROLINA.THE MONEY COMES FROM COURT FEE'SIN CRIMINAL CASES THAT'S USEDFOR LEGAL SERVICES IN CIVILCASETHE BIGGEST DEMAND FOR HELP ISIN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES,WHERE SPOUSES SEEK PROTECTIVEORDERS.THAT'S FOLLOWED BY HOUSINGCASES, AND CONSUMER CASES.TWO YEARS AGO LAWMAKERS CUT THE BUDGET FORLEGAL AID ELIMINATING SOME50 POSITIONS.A SPOKESWOMAN FOR LEGAL AID SAYSTHEY OFTEN REPRESENT VERYVULNERABLE CLIENTS WHO NEED AVOICE IN THE COURT>> WE ARE OFTEN THE DIFFERENCEBETWEEN THEM HAVING A LAWYER ANDTRUE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO THECOURT SYSTEM AND NOT HAVINGTHAT.THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.FOR EXAMPLE, IN DOMESTICVIOLENCE CASES, IT CAN MAKE ADIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 80% IN TERMSOF THEIR SUCCESS RATE WHEN THEYTRY AND SEEK A PROTECTIVE ORDERFROM THE COURTBILL LEGAL AID CURRENTLY GETS: $1.50 OF EACH CRIMINAL COURTFEE PAID TO THE COURTS.THE BUDGET ELIMINATES THAT-- IT HAS TOTALED $2 MILLIONANNUALLY FOR THE BUDGET.